Timing device



March 5, 1935.

R. o. HAMILL 1,993,005

' TIMING DEVICE Fild Jan. 12, 1932 a Sheets-Sheet 1 if INVENTOR I a Miran-town March 5, 1935. R Q L 1,993,005

TIMING DEVICE Filed Jan. 12, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. '2

W a q x INVENTOR $4M BY A v-QTToRNEY March 5, 1935. R Q L 1,993,005

TIMING DEVICE Filed Jan. 12, 1932 3 Shets-Sheet s FIG-.4

ll lllll I g W INVENTOR f I 2/ B A J I M 47, -wg ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIMING DEVICE Ret 0. Hamill, Brooklyn,

N. Y., assignor, by

Autler Application January 12,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for timing and especially to such devices actuated by run down means and provided with automatic means for rewinding or restoring such run-down means.

The invention is of use in connection with a variety of applications, in fact is useful in nearly all applications where timing is required. It is contemplated, however, that it will be especially useful in a timer for the travel of the maximum demand indicator of an electric meter.

The usual clock mechanism comprises a rundown device such as a main spring, which through a train of gearing drives shafts carrying the usual hour and minute, and sometimes second, hands at appropriate speeds, such train being regulated by an escapement controlled by suitable. means such as a hair spring. The hands, on their respective shafts, move over a dial whereby the time is indicated. Such mechanism is well known. As is also well known, the run down device having been restored or wound up, runs down as the operation of the mechanism progresses and eventually would become entirely run down and the mechanism would stop. To maintain continuous operation of the mechanism it is required that the run down device .be restored or rewound before it reaches the completely run down condition. This restoration is usually accomplished by hand. If, however, this should be inadvertently omitted, the mechanism would run down and its operation cease which would be intolerable in many applications as for instance in connection with the timing of the travel of the maximum demand indicator of an electric meter. In any event the hand restoration would be burdensome and inconvenient.

It is the main object of the present invention to relieve against the inconvenience and unreliability of prior timing devices operated by run down means and to insure their continuous and unfailing operation.

Other and ancillary objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a timing device embodying the invention;

Fig. '2 is a side elevation, partly broken away viewing the mechanism of Fig. 1 from the opposite side;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the mechanism of Figs. 1 and 2 viewed from the left hand of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of the 1932, Serial No. 586,111

mechanism showing the manner of contact with the main spring, the remainder of the parts being broken away;

Fig. 5 is a diagram of electrical connections of the apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic View showing the application of the timing device to the control of the maximum demand indicator of an electric meter;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a conventional clock face operated by the improved timing mechanism; and

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram showing the elec-- trical connections of the timing device in a modified arrangement.

Referring to the drawings, and first to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4. and 5, the apparatus comprises the metal side plates 1 and 2 between which is mounted any suitable and well known clock mechanism mounted between the metal plates 3 and 4 in a well known manner. This clock mechanism is not shown in its entirety, such mechanism being well understood.

Such clock mechanism comprises the flat coiled steel mainspring 5 surrounding and having one end secured to, the shaft 6 rotatably mounted in the plates 3 and 4 and held from turning in a direction to unwind the spring by a ratchet wheel 8 fixed upon the shaft engaging with the dog or pawl 9 pivotally mounted in the stationary plate 3. The other end of the spring is in engagement with a train of gearing 10 adapted to drive the usual hour and minute hand shafts of a clock, the train being controlled in a well known manner by an escapement 11, such mechanism and its driving and regulation being well understood it is not shown in its entirety. The spring is surrounded by a casing or barrel '7 fixed to the plate 4. When the spring is wound up, it tends to drive the clock work in the usual manner.

The shaft 6 is adapted to be turned in a direction to wind up the spring 5 by means of a gear 10 fixed upon the shaft 6 and meshing with a gear 11 fixed upon the shaft 12 rotatably mounted in the plates 1 and 2. The shaft 12 is moved in a direction to wind up the spring 5 by means of a step-by-step device comprising the pawl 13 engaging the ratchet wheel 14. fixed upon the shaft 12. The pawl 13 is reciprocated by the armature 15 pivoted to the frame 17, the pawl 13 being pivoted to the armature 15 of an electromagnet 16 at 18, the electro-magnet being stationaril'y mounted upon the frame. A tensed spring 19 has one end secured to the pawl 13 and the other end secured to the stop dog pivoted to the frame at 21. This spring serves to hold both the pawl and the dog in engagement with the ratchet wheel 14. The function of the dog 20 is to provide a stop against backward movement of the ratchet wheel 14 and its shaft.

The armature 15 is normally retracted by means of a spring 22 having one end secured to the armature 15, and the other end secured to a stationary post 23 upon the frame, the tension of the spring being adjustable by means of nuts 24 in screw-threaded engagement with the rod 25 which passes through the post 23 and to which one end of the spring 22 is connected. It Will now be apparent that as the magnet 16 is energized and deenergized the armature 15 will be reciprocated about its pivot 17 and the pawl 13 will be reciprocated therewith and step up the ratchet 14 at each reciprocation in a direction to Wind up the mainspring 5.

In order to intermittently energize the electro-magnet 16 to reciprocate the armature 15 and its mechanism as referred to, spring contact arms 26 and 27 are mounted upon the insulating block 28 fixed upon the frame plate 2. These spring contact arms are made preferably of spring copper or phosphor bronze and carry contact faces 29 and 30 which may be of tungsten or other suitable material adapted to resist any arcs which may be formed as these contacts are separated. The spring contact arms 26 and 27 are operated to engage and disengage the contacts 29 and 30 by means of their bent ends 31 and 32 which engage with the ratchet toothed wheel 33 made of insulation and rotating in the direction of the arrow (see Fig. 1). The spring of the contact arms 26 and 27 tends to hold the contacts 29 and 30 in engagement. When, however, the bent ends 31 and 32 are on different teeth of the wheel 33, the contacts 29 and 30 will be separated (see Fig. 1). When the projections 31 and 32 are over the same tooth, however, the contacts will be in engagement and make the circuit. It will thus appear that circuit will be intermittently made at the contacts 29 and 30 as the wheel 33 is rotated. The wheel 33 is fixed upon the shaft 34 which is rotatably mounted in the bracket 35 and the plates 2 and 4. To rotate the shaft 34 there is fixed upon it a spur gear 35 meshing with the gear 36 fixed upon the shaft 37 rotatably mounted in the clock work plates 3 and 4 and driven from any suitable portion of the clock work mechanism to give the desired speed. The speed is such that the ends 31 and 32 of the contact arm will remain opposite the same tooth of the wheel 33, and therefore the contacts 29 and 30 will be in engagement, for a period of about two seconds.

The contacts 29 and 30 being connected in the circuit of the electro-magnet (as will be hereinafter again referred to) it will be apparent that as the clock work is moved, the circuit of the electro-magnet will be intermittently made and broken at the contacts 29 and 30, if the circuit is otherwise closed. It is not necessary, however, to wind up the mainspring continually but only when it shall have been run down to a degree at which rewinding or restoring is required. In order therefore to limit the operation of the re winding mechanism to those times when rewinding of the spring is required, a contact arm 38 of conducting material is pivoted at 39 in the fiber block 40 whereby it is insulated, the block 40 being secured upon the frame plate 2. An insulated stop 41 is also mounted in the block 40 and the contact arm 38 tends to be drawn against that stop by means of a spring 42 connected at one end with the arm 38 and at the other end with an insulated post 43 which passes through the plate 2 to the outside thereof where it is connected with one of the electric supply wires 44.

As the spring 5 runs down, and therefore expands, it will come against the arm 38 and so complete the circuit at this point. When the spring has been sufiiciently wound up it will contract so that, the arm 38 having been moved to its inward limit of movement, (against the stop 41) the spring will part contact with the arm and the circuit will be broken thereat. Electric circuit is formed from the supply conductor 44 to the post 43, spring 42, contact arm 38, mainspring 5, which is in electrical contact with the frame through the mechanism, and through the frame with the securing bolt 45 which is electrically connected with the contact arm 27 by the conductor 46. The other contact arm 26, in sulated on the block 28, is connected by means of an insulated conductor 47 with the other terminal of the electro-magnet 16.

A diagram of the electrical connections is set forth in Fig. 5 from which it will be seen that one of the supply conductors 44 is mounted through the spring 42 and insulated arm 38 hearing against the insulated stop 41, whence the circuit passes through (when contact is made) the mainspring 5 to the contact arm 26 by which contact is alternately made and broken with the contact arm 27 as the fiber wheel 33 revolves. From the contact 27 circuit passes through the conductor 47 to one terminal of the electromagnet 16, the other terminal being connected by the conductor 48 with the other terminal of the electrical supply.

It will now be seen that with the mainspring 5 sufficiently run down so that it engages with the contact 38, circuit will be intermittently made through the electro-magnet 16 at the contacts 29 and 30 whereby the armature 15 will be reciprocated, and the shaft 12 stepped forward which in turn will drive the shaft 6 in a step-by-step manner and wind up the spring 5. When the spring has been wound up or restored sufficiently so that its contraction will cause it to part contact with the contact arm 38, the circuit of the electro-magnet will be broken at this point and remain broken until the spring has become sumciently run down to again expand where it will come against the arm 38. The magnet 16 will then again be intermittently energized through the contact arms 26 and 27 with the production of the step-by-step winding up of the spring as above referred to.

This mechanism is especially adapted for use in connection with the operation of a timed maximum demand indicator as set forth in my application Serial Number 555,241 filed August 5, 1931, as, being electrically controlled, it is adapted to be controlled from the circuit of the electricity being metered. Where the timing mechanism is so used (such an arrangement being shown in Fig. 6), there is secured upon the mechanism in place of the hour hand a segmental gear 49 having at its ends the gear segments 50 and 51 adapted to intermittently engage with the spur gear 52 rotatably mounted in the frame of the mechanism and carrying a contact 53 adapted to engage and brush past the spring contact 54 with which one side of the circuit is connected, such engagement occurring once during the passage of a gear segment. When the contacts 53 and 54 arein engagement circuit is completed through the conductor 55 with one of the terminals of the magnet for controlling the maximum demand indicator in each of the meters 56, 57, 58 and 59. The other terminals of the last mentioned magnets are connected through the conductor 60 with the other side of the supply circuit.

Referring to Fig. '7, the application of the timing mechanism to the indication of time by the usual clock face and hands is shown wherein the minute hand 61 and hour hand 62 moving over the usual clock face 63, are respectively secured upon the minute and hour shafts of the clock mechanism of the timing device 64 as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.

It will be seen (referring to Figs. l to 5 inclusive) that the timing mechanism drives the contact operating wheel 33 to alternately make and break the circuit of the electro-magnet l6 independently of the run down condition of the spring. It also appears that the contact arm 38 and spring 5 are in series with the contact arms 26 and 27, so that as long as no circuit is made, there is no energization of theelectro-magnet l6 and consequently no winding up of the spring except when the spring is sufiiciently run down to come in contact with the arm 38. This is the most efficient manner of regulating the winding because current flows only when the winding operation is taking place and this is but a small fraction of the time. The apparatus may, however, be simplified by omitting the contact arm 38 and connecting one side of the source of supply directly with one of the make and break contacts operated by the wheel 33. Under such circumstances current will be intermittently supplied at all times and the magnet will attract its armature and wind the spring a step whenever the main spring has run down sufliciently so that the magnet attraction is sufiicient to attract the armature against it and the tension of the spring 22.

It will be apparent that the force tending to prevent attraction of its armature by the magnet will be the combined tension of the mainspring 5 and the tension in the spring 22 which can be adjusted so that the sum of the tensions acting to prevent retraction of the armature will be that desired. Under such circumstances, although the magnet is intermittently energized at all times, it will not attract this armature so long as the combined tensions of the springs 5 and 22 are suflicient to prevent such attraction. When, however, the mainspring 5 has run down sufiiciently so that the force preventing attraction of the armature by the magnet is sufficiently reduced, the armature will be attracted by the magnet and the winding mechanism will be stepped forward to wind up the spring 5. This will occur so long as the attraction of the magnet is sufficient to overcome the spring tension. The winding operation will thus take place automatically whenever the spring has run down sufiiciently to require it and otherwise the winding operation will not occur. Electrical connections of such an arrangement are shown in Fig. 8 wherein one terminal of the electro-magnet 16' is connected by the conductor 48 with one side of the source of supply, the other terminal of the magnet being connected with the contact arm 26 which is operated in conjunction with the contact arm 2'? operated by the fiber wheel 33' in a manner as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the contact 27' being connected directly by the conductor 44 with the other side of the source of supply. It will clearly appear from this wiring diagram (Fig. 8) that the circuit 16 will be intermittently made and broken at all times and that the retraction of the armature 15' (and con sequently the operation of winding) will take place only when the attraction of the electromagnet is sufficient to overcome the combined tensions of the mainspring 5 and the armature retraction mainspring 22'.

While several of the more important uses have been particularly referred to, it will be apparent that the invention may have a wide variety of other applications.

While the invention has been illustrated in what are considered its best applications it may have other embodiments without departing from its spirit and is not therefore limited to the structures shown in the drawings.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with timing mechanism, of a run down, continuously acting driving means therefor, step-by-step means controlled according to the run down condition of said driving means for restoring said driving means and electro-magnetic means for operating said step-by-step means, said electro-magnetic means having a circuit including make and break contacts driven by said driving means and contacts controlled according to the run down condition of said driving means.

2. The combination with timing mechanism, of a run down, continuously acting driving means therefor, step-by-step means for restoring said driving means, an electro-magnet operating said step-by-step means and a circuit for said electromagnet comprising in series therein intermittently operating make and break contacts driven by said driving means and contacts controlled by the run down condition of said driving means.

3. In a timing device, the combination with timing mechanism, of a coiled spring driving said mechanism, a pawl and ratchet mechanism adapted to wind said spring, an electro-magnet operating said pawl and ratchet mechanism and a circuit for said electro-magnet comprising make and break contacts intermittently operated by said timing mechanism and contacts comprising a contact member and the said spring, the said spring and contact member becoming out of engagement as the spring contracts on winding and coming into engagement as the spring expands in running down.

4. In a timing device, the combination with timing mechanism, of a coiled spring driving said mechanism, a pawl and ratchet mechanism adapted to wind said spring, an electro-magnet operating said pawl and ratchet mechanism and a circuit for said electro-magnet comprising make and break contacts intermittently operated by said timing mechanism and contacts controlled by the said spring, the said spring controlled contacts becoming out of engagement as the spring contracts on winding and coming into engagement as the spring expands in running down.

5. The combination with timing mechanism, of continuously acting run down driving means therefor, step-by-step means for restoring said driving means, an electro-magnet operating said step-by-step means and a circuit for said electromagnet comprising contacts controlled by the run down condition of said driving means for initiating and terminating the period of restoration of said driving means and make and break contacts operated by said driving means to make and break the said circuit between the initiation and termination of said restoration period.

6. In a timing device, the combination with timing mechanism, of a coiled spring driving said mechanism, a pawl and ratchet mechanism adapted to Wind said spring, an electro-magnet operating said pawl and ratchet mechanism and a circuit for said electro-magnet comprising make and break contacts operated by said timing mechanism and contacts controlled by the saidspring initiating and terminating the windingvof said spring, the said make and break contacts being operated by said driving means to make and break the said circuit between the initiation and termination of the spring winding, said spring controlled contacts becoming out of engagement as the spring contracts on winding and coming into engagement as the spring expands in running down.

RET 0. HAMILL. 

